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Only a few matches are left before the conclusion of the current IPL 2026 season. Out of 10 teams, 6 teams are already out of the title race. This season has been hot and cold for many star players. Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad and many other stars did not find their rhythm on most of the occasions.
In the lead up to the 2027 season, there will be a number of reshuffles, retentions and releases among teams. Which players will be released and which will be retained has not been decided yet. Based on performance and price, Ambati Rayudu has predicted the future of some players ahead of the new season.
Ambati Rayudu predicted the future of many IPL stars
Ahead of IPL 2026 Qualifier 1, ESPN Cricinfo has shared a video on its social media platform, in which former Team India batsman Ambati Rayudu is at the center of the video. Rayudu was faced with a set of names of players, and had to either release or retain, predicting the probable future of the players.
Rayudu suggested LSG to release Rishabh Pant
The set of players mostly includes international star players. There are total 27 names in the video. Rayudu mostly likes to say ‘retained’. Although there are some rare names, such as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant, who is priced at Rs 27 crore but failed to produce any significant results in back-to-back seasons, are eligible to be released ahead of the IPL 2027 player auction, according to Ambati Rayudu.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain, who struggled in two consecutive seasons, gets a ‘retain’ decision by the former cricketer. Other notable names including Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Mathisha Pathirana also feature in the video.
Some ‘release and buy back’ suggestions of Ambati Rayudu pic.twitter.com/v9vUAeveQ6
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 26 May 2026
Uphold or release Ambati Rayudu’s decision:
- Suryakumar Yadav (INR 16.35 crore): Retained
- Trent Boult (INR 12.5 Crore): Release and buyback
- Rohit Sharma (INR 16.3 crore): Retained
- Hardik Pandya (INR 16.35 crore): Retained
- Ruturaj Gaikwad (INR 18 Crore): Retained
- Shivam Dubey (INR 12 Crore): Retained
- Prashant Veer (INR 14 Crore): Release and Buyback
- MS Dhoni (INR 4 Crore): Retained
- Aiden Markram (INR 2 Crore): Retained
- Nicholas Pooran (INR 21 Crore): Release and Buyback
- Rishabh Pant (INR 27 crore): Release and buyback
- Mayank Yadav (INR 11 Crore): Retained (0:57)
- Marco Jansen (INR 7 Crore): Retained
- Yuzvendra Chahal (INR 18 crore): Retained
- Tristan Stubbs (INR 10 Crore): Retained
- Kuldeep Yadav (INR 13.26 crore): Retained
- Ajinkya Rahane (INR 1.5 Crore): Retained
- Cameron Green (INR 25.2 crore): Retained
- Mathisha Pathirana (INR 18 Crore): Release and Buyback
- Rahul Tewatia (INR 4 crore): Retained
- Glenn Phillips (INR 2 Crore): Retained
- Shimron Hetmyer (INR 11 crore): Retained
- Ravindra Jadeja (INR 14 crore): Retained
- Romario Shepherd (INR 1.5 crore): Retained
- Jitesh Sharma (INR 11 crore): Retained
- Liam Livingston (INR 13 Crore): Release and buyback
- Harshal Patel (8 crores): Retained
Read More: Former CSK star names IPL 2026 team of the tournament, ignores Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
